Oct. 6, 2009
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- Iowa soccer wallpaper
- Iowasoccer.com
This Week
The University of Iowa soccer team hits the road for two Big Ten games this weekend.
The Hawkeyes face No. 25 Ohio State Friday at the Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium for a 6:30 p.m. (CT) game.
Penn State welcomes Iowa Sunday for a 10 a.m. (CT) game.
Scouting the Opponents
Ohio State’s leading scorers are sophomore Paige Maxwell and freshman Lauren Granberg. Maxwell has scored five time for the Buckeyes, while Granberg has found the target four times.
Senior Lauren Robertson has played every minute in goal for OSU, only allowing six goals in 11 games.
Danielle Toney leads Penn State’s offense with five goals, two assists and 12 points. Toney is followed by freshman Christine Nairn with four goals, three assists and 11 points.
Penn State defeated Ohio State last weekend, 2-1, in College Park, PA.
Series History
Iowa trails Ohio State 4-7-1 and Penn State 0-14-0. The Hawkeyes fell to OSU, 2-3, and PSU, 0-1 (OT), last year.
Hawkeyes In Extra Time
Iowa forced Wisconsin into two periods of extra time Sunday. It marks the first time in 14 games that Iowa has seen extra periods. Iowa’s game against Northwestern last season went to the second over time period.
Iowa Secures Sixth Shutout
The Hawkeyes shut down Drake’s offense Wednesday. The battle between in-state teams ended with Iowa winning, 1-0.
The shutout marks the sixth time this season Iowa has held an opposing team scoreless.
Iowa also recorded shutouts against Montana (2-0), South Dakota State (2-0), Wisconsin-Milwaukee (4-0), Iowa State (2-0) and UNI (3-0).
Moran In The Books
Goalkeeper Emily Moran has continued to succeed in goal for Iowa this season. In addition to leading the Hawkeyes to six shutouts, Moran denied opponents for just over 409 straight minutes.
The sophomore has etched her name into two record categories. Moran is currently fifth on Iowa’s all-time career saves list with 125, just four shy of fourth place. She is also tied for third in season individual victories with eight.
Iowa has only allowed eight goals in 12 games, the first three coming in the season opener against then No. 24 Missouri.
Historical Start
Head Coach Ron Rainey along with his assistants, Eileen Narcotta and Shane Meridith, have led the Hawkeyes to a 8-4 start.
The 2009 Iowa team is tied with the 2000 squad for the best start in the program’s 13 year history.
Hawkeyes In Record Books
Keli McLaughlin is just two goals shy of a eighth place spot on the season individual goals list. McLaughlin has scored seven times for the Hawkeyes this year and recorded an assist.
The junior has also earned 15 points for her efforts, six shy of 10th place on the season individual points list.
Alyssa Cosnek and Alyscha Mottershead are both close to the season individual assists category. They each have four assists this season, two short of the sixth place spot.
Experience Isn’t Everything
Nearly half of Iowa’s 23 goals this season have been scored by freshmen or sophomores. The underclassmen have shown this season that experience is not everything, as they have combined for 10 goals and 33 points.
Alyssa Cosnek and Alyscha Mottershead lead the underclassmen effort with three goals, four assists and 10 points each, followed by Morgan Showalter who has three goals, three assists, and nine points.
On the defensive side, Moran has played just over 1,040 minutes in goal. The sophomore has already notched her name in fifth place on the all-time career saves list with 125, just four saves shy of fourth place. In addition to career saves, Moran has led Iowa to six shutouts in 12 games.
Up Next For Iowa
Iowa hosts Illinois Oct. 17 for a Saturday night game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Iowa Soccer Complex.
Illinois is one of the seven ranked opponents Iowa faces this season.
Purdue is ranked the highest with the No. 9 spot, followed by Ohio State (No. 25). Illinois, Michigan State, and Indiana have all received votes. Missouri was ranked No. 24 when Iowa hosted the Tigers in the season opener, and Minnesota was also previously ranked 17th.
All rankings are based on the NSCAA/adidas Division I Women’s Soccer Rankings.